ADULT BASEBALL: Werner's blast lifts Boyertown past Gabelsville

BOYERTOWN — A long blast that went for a three-run homer and another that didn’t were the difference in Tuesday night’s Tri-County League contest between rivals Boyertown and Gabelsville.

Chris Werner drilled one out to left with two on in the fourth inning at the Boyertown High School JV field to put the Metz on top. Then Gary Hessler almost tied it up for the Owls in the seventh, but Boyertown right-fielder Travis Kreitz pulled down the long drive while crashing into the fence to save a 6-3 win.

Werner knocked in four runs in all and Cole Speilman had two hits for the third-place Metz (18-8) and Anthony Clemens earned the win with Colby Hartman tossing three shutout innings to earn the save. Cody Kulp and Shawn Betz each had two hits and Justin McCormick and Ryan Schwager hit solo homers for fourth-place Gabelsville (16-10).

Schwager had tied the score at 3-3 with a leadoff homer in the fourth. But Devyn Kerr and Speilman singled with one out in the bottom of the inning and Werner roped one down the line in left for the deciding runs.

“It’s about time,” said shortstop Werner, who is playing his second season with the Metz after playing for the Boyertown American Legion team during previous summers. “I was getting close this year. I had a couple in the gap. I finally got one out there. I got the pitch to hit.”

The game was far from over at that point, however, as the Owls — who had routed the Metz by a 13-1 score at Bear Stadium on Saturday – put two men on in the sixth on a single by Betz and a walk to Schwager before left-hander Hartman got out of the inning on a fly to Kreitz and a foul pop to third baseman Josh Schnell.

Then Gabelsville threatened again with one out in the seventh when Rob Patete grounded a hit through the middle and David Raifsnider was hit by a pitch. This time the Owls almost took advantage of the opportunity when Hessler drove one high and far the opposite way, but Kreitz made the catch with his glove above the fence and Hartman retired Betz on a bouncer to third to wrap up the win.

“Playing them, it ain’t over until the last out’s made,” said Boyertown manager Mike Speilman. “Because they can hit.”

Earlier, Patete had given the visitors the lead with a sacrifice fly in the first. Boyertown came back back with three in the second on a leadoff walk by Cory Berghardt, a single by Alex Neiman, an error on a sacrifice bunt by Devyn Kerr, an RBI single by Cole Speilman, and a sacrifice fly to center by Werner.

“I was struggling,” Werner said concerning his recent hitting. “I was striking out a lot more than usual. I finally got my swing down and I’m finding the holes. Hopefully, I can keep doing that.”

McCormick got the Owls to within one with his drive to right leading off the third and Schwager drilled his homer to right-center to tie the game. But Gabelsville, which left the bases loaded in the second and stranded 10 runners in all, could not break through again.

Werner says he enjoys playing with the Metz, even though it’s quite difference than his Legion Bears experience.

“I do enjoy it,” he said. “It’s fun. The competition’s not as big as Legion, playing under the lights and not as many people. But I’ve grown up with a lot of these guys and it’s nice to play with these guys.”

The Metz, who made it to the playoff finals last year in their fourth year of existence and lost in five games, have now beaten the Owls in three out of four this season.

“We wish we could be up there a little further,” said Werner. “We need to pick up our batting a little bit more. Our pitching is strong.”

NOTESBetz threw 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. ... The Owls turned two double plays. ... Raifsnider doubled for Gabelsville with two away in the third, but the Owls left the bases full after an error and a bunt single by Betz. ... Both teams have six games remaining and currently hold down the last two playoff spots.